"Hallo, Anstice, glad you're not out. I wanted to see you."
Anstice moved forward to meet him, but Dr. Willows, an agile little man of middle age, hopped out of his car, and taking Anstice's arm moved with him out of ear-shot of the waiting chauffeur.
"Well?" Anstice's voice was not inviting.
"It's about that affair at Cherry Orchard." Involuntarily Anstice's arm stiffened, and the other man dropped it as he went on speaking. "I was called in last night, and hearing you were ill--by the way, are you better now?" He broke off abruptly and peered into Anstice's face with disconcerting keenness.
"Quite, thanks. It was only a temporary indisposition," returned Anstice coldly; and Dr. Willows relaxed his gaze.
"Glad to hear it--though you look pretty seedy this morning. You know you really work too hard, Anstice. I assure you your predecessor didn't take half the trouble with his patients that you do----"
"You'll excuse me reminding you that I have not begun my round yet." Anstice interrupted him impatiently. "You were saying you were called in to Cherry Orchard----"
"Yes. The little girl was badly burnt--owing to some carelessness on the part of the servants--and since you were not available----"
"Who told you I was not available?" His tone was grim.
"Why, Miss Wayne, of course. You know she and Mr. Cheniston came on to see me after finding you weren't able to go owing to being seedy yourself"--even Anstice's sore spirit could not doubt the little man's absolute ignorance of the nature of his supposed illness--"and they asked me to go in your place. So as it was an urgent case of course I did not hesitate to go."
"Of course not." Anstice strove to speak naturally. "Well, you went?"
"Yes, and treated the child. As you know, she is only a kiddie, and the shock has been as bad as the actual burns, though they are severe enough."
"Have you been there to-day?"
"No--that's what I came to see you about. I stayed pretty late last night, and left the child asleep; but now, of course, you will take over the case. Mrs. Carstairs understood I was only filling your place, you know."
"Do you think"--Anstice hesitated oddly, and Dr. Willows told himself the man looked shockingly ill--"do you think Mrs. Carstairs would prefer you to continue the case?"
"Good Lord, no!" Dr. Willows stared. "Why, what bee have you got in your bonnet now? I told you Mrs. Carstairs knew I was only representing you because you were ill, and couldn't come, and I told her I would run over first thing this morning and see if you were able to take on the case yourself."